Floral display



Aug. 21, 1956 c. E. BUSSERT 2,759,285

FLORAL DISPLAY Filed April 25, 1955 J2 INVENTOR.

6 fiussmfi UnitedStat-es Patent 2,759,285 "nromrnrsrmv -ClarenceBussert, Melrose:Park, Ill. Kppliatlon'Api-il 23, 1953,- swarm. 350,657

vz Claims. remains My invention relates to the decorative arts andincludes among its objects and advantages an improvement in appearanceand durability in the type of display disclosed in my Patent 2,601,658of June 24, 1952.

Figure l is a principally sectional View of an almost mature rose, witha mounting stem according to the invention in position to be assembledwith it;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same parts, assembled;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the upper end of the mounting stern; and

Figure 4 is a view of an assembled display.

Displays according to my prior patent above mentioned, are of greatbeauty and of outstanding durability so far as decomposition ordiscoloration of the liquid or solid contents of the globe is concerned.They are also reasonably resistant to mechanical shock, although this isone aspect of the structure that leaves something to be desired. Someroses have a very stiff, firm stem. Others have a weak stem. Quiteoften, a rose having a beautiful, large head, but having a weak stern,does not lend itself to artistic arrangement, and must therefore bediscarded. We have found that in all cases, whether the stem be firm orweak, there is one vulnerable spot where the head easily snaps off, orbreaks off, from the stem; this is the top end of the stem, just belowthe calyx.

Rotation of the display about a vertical axis by the user is a commonoccurrence, and is often done with a quick movement. Because the mass ofliquid is spherical, it does not rotate, and the resultant twisting andbending action on the stem of the flower is much more severe than casualconsideration would lead one to expect. Similarly, if the packageddisplayis quickly inverted in handling, an even more violent twisting,or bending, or both, is imposed on the plants by the inertia of theliquid.

After extended study, I have found that in a rose at the blooming stageof its life cycle, not only the calyx but substantially the entireperianth, including the lower parts of the corolla, still remains in awoody structural condition of suflicient mechanical strength to makesuch a mounting procedure as I have disclosed herein, effective anddurable.

According to the invention, I truncate the perianth just above its unionwith the stem proper by a clean cut in a transverse plane. This leaves adownwardly directed plane face 10, above which lies a relatively strongstructure 12, including the calyx and the lower part of the corolla.Near the top of this relatively rigid mass is a small region 14containing the stamens and carpels, which are just beginning their stageof most rapid growth. The stamens and carpels have relatively littlemechanical strength, but the structure below them has been found to bedurable and effective in the assembly disclosed.

After truncating the perianth, I use a mechanical drill to fashion abore 16 up the axis of the perianth. This can be done quickly wtih anordinary drill, and the diameter of the bore should be substantiallyequal to the minimum diameter of the threaded staif 18, so that thetPatented Aug. 7 2'1, :1 956 threads 20 0f the :statf will fashiongrooves for themselves in ithe :periph eny of the here, but, except fortlii's groovingraction, the standard does not wedge in the bore or.tenduossplit *the' :perianth. The standard l8 has threads .20throughout the major 'porti on df its leng'th and a rsuitablapointedentry end at 22. Backer the threaded portion it is' -reduced in diametertodefine a shank 24, which vis received-in the m'airi' tubtilar reach-26, with the ishoulder at the=end 1 of the shank 2minabutzment'with'ithe end of the ='tubular reach E6. 'T he' shaiik 24 is'cemente'd into the =re'achi26 rw'ith"a conventional plastic solvent;

After thew'rriechanic'al'assembly been completed, the flower proper maybe coated as described in my Patent 2,601,658. I prefer to form thereach 26 of suitable plastic, which is readily available in variouscolors and is made of a green color substantially duplicating the colorof the natural stem. Such an artificial stem results in a great increasein the mechanical strength of the finished assembly of Figure 4 and alsopermits much greater standardization and variety of designs in thefinished, assembled display of Figure 4. The bending strength of thestaff 26 is many times greater than that of the original stem. Twistingforces at the joint are transmitted into the perianth over :a large areaso that the mechanical strength of the union between stem and flower isalso many times greater.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated the conventional, transparent glass globe28 filled with liquid and closed by the base 30. The stems 26 may bethrust into the spongy base 32, and because they are strong and uniform,the operator experiences much less difficulty in correct assembly withsubstantially no breakage of stems. Furthermore, in a display includinga plurality of coated flowers 34, it is practical and effective to setinto the same spongy base material 32, a few sprays 36 of coated naturalfoliage. When this is properly done, it requires very close inspectionto detect the artificiality of the stems 26. Even this artificiality canbe further concealed by aflixing a few small, nautral leaves 38 to thestems 26.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditionsof service by employing one or more of the novel features hereindisclosed or equivalents thereof. For instance, the artificial stem mayconsist of one piece, tubular or solid, with the threads and pointmolded or machined. It may also be made of wood, brass, or any othermaterial compatible with the liquid used in the bowls. is also of valueby itself for display, without immersion. As at present advised withrespect to the apparent scope of my invention, I desire to claim thefollowing subject matter:

1. A floral display comprising, in combination: a transparent,hermetically sealed container defined by surfaces of revolution withrespect to a central, normally vertical axis; a liquid filling,substantially filling the space in said container; and a plurality ofdisplay flowers mounted in fixed, predetermined positions in saidliquid; each display flower comprising an elongated stem of color anddimensions substantially duplicating a natural stem; said stem beingartificial and tubular and of mechanical strength many times greaterthan a natural stern; a natural flower cut oif near the base of theperianth; said stern having a threaded portion entering said perianthalong its axis, with the structure of the perianth distorted to theextent of the grooves occupied by the threads, but otherwise inoriginal, undistorted condition; said assembled flower structure havingan overall protective coating; and natural leaves attached to saidartificial stem in positions approximating the configuration of thenatural plant; certain of said flowers being oflset laterally away fromthe vertical axis of said container, whereby rotation of The structureillustrated in Figure 2 said container about a vertical axis exposes theflower structure to a bending load as well as a twisting load.

2. A floral display comprising, in combination: a transparent sealedcontainer defined chiefly by surfaces of revolution with respect to acentral, normally vertical axis; a liquid filling substantially fillingthe space in said container; and a display inside said container otfsetaway from the vertical axis of said container, whereby rotation of saidcontainer exposes the display structure to a bending load; said displaycomprising a natural flower with its natural stem amputated, and anartificial stem of greater mechanical strength than the natural stem;said artificial stem supporting the natural flower and being anchored atits lower end; said flower having a central axial bore extending up fromthe bottom and formed by removal of the natural flower structure; saidartificial stem having an upper end adapted to fit snugly in saidpreformed hole with negligible distortion of the encircling flowerstructure; said upper stem end being threaded; the diameter of thepreformed hole being substantially equal to the minimum diameter of saidthreaded end; whereby the distortion of the flower structure is limitedto the formation of a helical groove receiving the threads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,540,637 Kratzel June 2, 1925 1,990,407 Kamrass Feb. 5, 1935 2,075,327Abrams Mar. 30, 1937 2,140,022 Martin Dec. 13, 1938 2,350,268 ZuckermanMay 30, 1944 2,514,177 Brown July 4, 1950 2,601,658 Bussert June 24,1952

